Method and Device for a Motorized Self-Starting Hookah System

ABSTRACT

The present system is a hookah apparatus containing multi-chambers for flow of mixed air using an integrated motor and fan. The motor in the hookah apparatus pulls unburned air from the tobacco bowl, down the pipe, and out through a fan release valve in order to initiate the burning and heating of the tobacco. The motor allows a user to pull unburned tobacco air out of the hookah without the need to inhale it for purpose of starting the hookah. Furthermore, the hookah apparatus contains electronic components such as a switch, contact grids, contacts, rechargeable battery and voltage input port.

PRIORITY CLAIMS AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims domestic priority benefits, per 35 USC § 119(e), from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/127,096 filed on Dec. 17, 2020, the entire contents, of the aforementioned application, are expressly incorporated hereinto by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a smoking a pipe generally known as a hookah, shisha, water pipe or narghile. More specifically, a hookah is a multi-stemmed smoking apparatus that passes tobacco or marijuana smoke through a water basin before inhalation.

Typically, a hookah has a single bowl that is mounted at the top and sits upon the top end of a multi-stemmed pipe. The bowl contains port holes that allow air to funnel through from the top of the pipe down towards the bottom of the pipe. At the base end of the hookah, the pipe sits upon the top of a water basin and a section of it is submerged into the water basin. The pipe creates a tight seal with the water basin such that air enters through the pipe and escapes through a purging valve depending on whether the user is inhaling from the hose connected to the hook a or exhaling through the hookah, respectively. The purge valve is usually located near the middle of the pipe in order to purge the hookah of any harsh smoke. The purge valve is a one-way valve usually made of a vent hole, a ball or bearing and a purge cap. Near the purge valve, a flexible hookah hose is placed in an opening on the pipe. The opening designated for the hookah hose channels down inside the base section of the hookah where an empty chamber is created between the middle section and the water basin.

To set up a hookah for operation, the user partially fills the water basin with water and places the metal pipe onto the top of the water basin. The basin contains enough water such that the bottom end of the pipe is submerged. The user then fills the bowl, located at the top of the pipe, with tobacco. A catalyst, such as hot coal is then placed on top of the tobacco to heat and burn the tobacco. Typically, a thin sheet of metal, such as aluminum or another metal or metal alloy, is placed between the coal and the tobacco in order to evenly distribute the heat amongst the bowl and to prevent direct contact. The user then plugs the detachable flexible hose unto the side of the water pipe for operation.

To operate a hookah, the user places the other end of the flexible hose in their mouth and inhales through it. The user's inhalation pulls air from the partially filled water basin which causes a decrease in pressure in comparison with the basin's surroundings. As a result of the decreased pressure, smoke from the burning tobacco is pulled through the port holes, down the pipe and into the water basin. The smoke-filled air bubbles rise up and pop at the surface of the water basin and escape through a channel that feeds directly to the connected end of the other end of the flexible hose. Typically, after the second inhalation, the user will be inhaling tobacco smoke from the burning tobacco that is now present in the water basin.

The continual inhalation will pull air through the coals and increase the rate of heating and burning, thereby creating more smoke from the flavored tobacco. However, sometimes a user may need to inhale multiple times at the beginning of their hookah session before smoke is created from the burning tobacco.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the disclosures herein, there is provided an apparatus, which has a hollow pipe, a tip at the top of the hollow pipe, wherein said tip will hold a bowl of tobacco, a tubular stem fitted over the hollow pipe and placed under the tip, a motorized hookah starter with a tubular center fitted over the hollow pipe and placed under the stem, wherein said starter pulls smoke from the tobacco bowl located at the tip using a battery powered motor and releases the smoke outside of the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are shown in the drawings and will be described below with reference to the figures, whereby elements having the same effect have been provided with the same reference numerals. The following is shown:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a motorized self-starting hookah system.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the system including all of the components.

FIG. 3A shows a frontal view of the motorized self-starter with two cross sectional lines at the midpoint facing opposite directions.

FIG. 3B shows a partial cross-sectional view of the motorized self-starter taken along line 3B-3B from FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C shows a partial cross-sectional view of the motorized self-starter taken along line 3C-3C from FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of the motorized self-starter with two cross sectional lines facing in the same direction.

FIG. 4B shows an active partial cross-sectional view of the motorized self-starting hookah system taken along line 4B-4B mentioned in FIG. 4A indicating the direction of flow of the smoked filled air.

FIG. 4C shows another partial cross-sectional view of the motorized self-starting hookah system taken along line 4C-4C mentioned in FIG. 4A indicating some of the chambers and the smoke-filled air flowing through it.

FIG. 5 shows a complete cross-sectional view of the motorized self-starting hookah system.

FIG. 6A shows a partial top-down view of the motorized self-starting hookah system indicating the different chambers and areas.

FIG. 6B shows a partial isometric view of the motorized self-starting hookah system.

FIG. 7A shows a top-down view of the motorized self-starting hookah system's cap.

FIG. 7B shows a bottom-up view of the motorized self-starting hookah system's cap.

FIG. 8A shows a side view of one of the release valves of the motorized self-starting hookah system.

FIG. 8B shows an isometric view of one of the release valves of the motorized self-starting hookah system.

DESCRIPTION

The present system incorporates a motorized fan for pulling air from the bowl in order to start the burning of the tobacco. A motorized fan will allow for continuous airflow such that a user will not have to pull the air into their lungs in order to start the hookah. The application of the system is not limited to the use of tobacco and can be used for other substances such as marijuana.

The use of the present system permits a user to burn tobacco without having to inhale unburned tobacco air. The system will pull smoke from the tobacco bowl and releases it outside of the system through the use of a motorized fan.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the assembled motorized self-starting hookah system from a high-level perspective in environment 100. The present system contains a tip 101, a stem 103, the fan release valve 109, the purge valve 107, the motorized self-starter 112, the motorized self-starter cap 113, the motorized self-starter housing 111, and the hollow pipe 105. The set screw 137, which holds the hollow pipe 105 secured in place, inside of the motorized self-starter housing 111, can be unscrewed in order to dissemble the system for maintenance, repairs or storage.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the motorized self-starting hookah system as an integrated whole 200. In order to utilize the motorized self-starting hookah system 200, the user will set up the hookah similar to other traditional hookahs. The user will first install the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 on top of a water basin (not pictured) and place a bowl of filled tobacco (not pictured) on the tip 201. The user then places charcoal(s) or other flammable object above the bowl and presses the switch 225 to turn on the motorized self-starting hookah system 200. Once the switch 225 is turned on, air is pulled into the motorized self-starting hookah system 200. The air first passes through the bowl on top of the tip 201 and down through the hollow pipe 205. As the charcoal burns the tobacco contained within the bowl (not pictured), the air mixes in with the tobacco smoke, aroma, and flavor and is channeled down through the hollow pipe 205. The mixed air is then diverted from the hollow pipe 205 and out of the fan release valve 209. The mixed air flows through a small hole 210 located on the shaft of the hollow pipe 205 to allow the mixed air to travel through a chamber (not pictured but discussed below) and out through the fan release valve 209. The switch 225 on the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 can then be turned off once the user is satisfied with the quality of the smoke that is released from the fan release valve 209.

The motorized self-starting hookah system 200 also has other inner components in the motorized self-starter 212. A motor 231, enclosed in a motor holder 229, drives the motor fan 227, which in turn diverts the mixed air travelling down the hollow pipe 205, through the small hole 210, and instead releases the mixed air through the fan release valve 209. To ensure that all of the suctioned mixed air travels through the fan release valve 209, the motor holder 229 contains a groove where a sealant ring 234 is inserted such that an air-tight seal is created between the motor holder 229 and the chamber (pictured but not enumerated). The motor 231 is powered by a rechargeable battery 219, that is connected through a contact grid 221 and copper coils 233 and 235 which are located above the motor 231 and on the motor holder cap 232. The copper coils 233 and 235 make contact to some of the pins located on the contact grid 221 associated with the negative and positive terminals of the rechargeable battery 219 but connected in series with the switch 225. When the switch 225 is turned on, the circuit is closed between the copper coils 233 and 235, the contact grid 221, the rechargeable battery 219 and the motor 231 creating the necessary turbinal force to start sucking in the mixed air through the motorized self-started 212. Alternatively, when the switch 225 is turned off, the circuit is open and thus no electricity flows through the relevant electrical components and the motorized self-starter 212 does not suck in the mixed air.

The rechargeable battery 219 can be recharged through a 5-volt charging port 223 although it is not limited to that voltage. The components of the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 are detachable and will allow the user to clean the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 and replace the rechargeable battery 219 when necessary. The rechargeable battery 219 can be any rated volt or amperage with any acceptable battery chemistry. The self-starting motor cap 213 can be secured to the self-starting motor housing 211 through a simple twist-lock mechanism or another equivalent means of securing it. The seal 217 ensures that the mixed air or moisture does not leak through the various channels and grooves when the cap 213 is secured to the motorized self-starter housing 211.

The pipe 205, can be made of plastic, metal, metal alloy, ceramic, or glass. However, a metal pipe, preferably aluminum, will allow for easier cleaning and will not crack if the bowl at the top becomes too hot. Moreover, the motorized self-starter housing 211 can be made with plastic, metal, metal allow such as aluminum, glass or ceramic.

The switch 225 in the current motorized self-starting hookah system 200 utilizes a on/off mechanism which operates by opening and closing the circuit between the battery 219 and the motor 231. However, a dial may be used in the place of an on/off switch 219 such that the user may turn the dial and increase or decrease resistance of the current flowing through the circuit, thereby controlling the speed by which the motor 231 turns the motor fan 227. A dial will allow users to vary the speed of the motor in case a larger or smaller tobacco bowl is placed on top of the hookah. When a larger bowl is used, the increase in motor speed will allow the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 to start quicker, while a slower speed will prevent a smaller bowl from burning too quickly.

The present motorized self-starting hookah system 200 utilizes a 5-volt 2.5 mm charging socket for the battery charger 223. However, in some embodiments, a 5-volt USB-C or Micro-USB port may be used due to their ubiquitous nature.

The present motorized self-starting hookah system 200 contains a set screw 237 for the purpose of securing and dismantling the system 200. When the set screw 237 is tightened and the tip 201 is screwed on, the hollow pipe 205 and the motorized self-starter 212 become fixed to each other. As a result, the stem 203 cannot move as it is stuck between the housing and the tip.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the motorized self-starter 312 with the self-starting motor cap 313. FIGS. 3B and 3C are cross-sectional views of the motorized self-starter 312 with the self-starting motor cap 313 taken along lines 3B-3B and 3C-3C respectively from FIG. 3A. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of only the motorized self-starter 412. FIGS. 4B and 4C are cross-sectional views of the motorized self-starter 412 along lines 4B-4B and 4C-4C at 50% depth of view and 70% depth of view, respectively. FIGS. 4B and 4C illustrate the mixed air travelling through the various chambers which cannot be viewed from an ordinary cross-sectional view. When the switch 225 is flipped in the on position and the circuit is closed, current runs from the rechargeable battery 219 and powers the motor 331 which in turn drives the motor fan 327. The motor fan 327 pulls air from the pipe channel C305/C405, up the motor fan channel C327/C427, into the motor cavity C429, out the fan output channel C409 and out through the fan release valve 209. The sealant ring 324 is set around the motor holder 329—in a carved-out groove—ensuring that mixed air or moisture cannot travel upwards through the motor cavity C429. This air-tight seal ensures that all of the mixed air is redirected down into the motor cavity C429 and travels upwards through the fan output channel C409. The seal 317 located between the self-starting motor housing 311 and the self-starting motor cap 313 ensures that air can only be released through the fan output channel C409.

When an increase in pressure exists in the basin, air can move up through the purge valve channel C307 and out into the atmosphere through the purge valve 307. This happens when the user blows air into the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 in order to dispel some of the mixed air.

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the entire motorized self-starting hookah system in environment 500. The tip 501, stem 503, motorized self-starter 513 and motorized self-starter housing 511 contains the same inner hole diameter such that the pipe 505 can fit through all of the mentioned components.

FIG. 6A contains a top down view of the motorized self-starter 612 and FIG. 6B contains an isometric view of the motorized self-starter 612. When the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 is not turned on, the user inhales through the hose channel C602. The inhalation causes a pressure difference in the basin and as a result, the mixed air from the tobacco bowl travels down and out through the partially submerged pipe channel C605 in the basin, and ultimately through the hose channel C602 and into the user's mouth. The mixed air from the pipe 205 is released into the basin to displace the mixed air inhaled by the user. While the user is inhaling, using a fitted hose (not pictured) that is connected to the hose channel C602, the purge valve 207 closes with use of one of the valve ball bearings 215 so that the mixed air can only travel from the top, down the pipe 205, through the hose channel C602 and out through the hose, into the user's mouth.

When the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 is turned on through the switch 225, located above the rechargeable battery chamber C619, the motor fan 227 will pull mixed air from the tobacco bowl, down the pipe 205, up the motor fan channel C627, through the motor cavity C629, up the fan output channel C609, and out of the fan release valve 209.

The motorized self-starter 612 contains an orientation tab outdent 604 to ensure that the channels of the motorized self-starter and self-starter cap 213 are properly aligned.

When a user “purges” the motorized self-starting hookah system 200, he or she blows air into the fitted hose in order to release any unwanted or harsh smoke present in the basin. In the present motorized self-starting hookah system 200, and similar to other hookahs, when the user exhales into the fitted hose, the air will travel down the hose channel C602 and into the basin. The extra air in the basin will create a positive pressure and will create an outward pressure such that mixed air within the basin's cavity will travel through the purge channel C607 and out the purge valve 207. The outward pressure will displace the valve ball bearing 215 located just before the purge valve 207 and allow the mixed air to flow up through the purge channel C607 and out the purge valve 207. In addition, similar to other hookahs, the increase in pressure in the basin may also cause air to travel upwards through the pipe channel C605 and out through the bowl of tobacco at the top.

FIG. 7A shows a top down view of the motorized self-starter cap 713 and FIG. 7B shows a bottom up view of the motorized self-starter cap 713. The absence of components in the figures gives emphasis to the channels located on the cap in order to allow the user to understand how the channels of the cap 713 interact with the channels of the motorized self-starter housing 211. The switch cavity C729 and the charging port cavity C719 are placed substantially above the contact grid cavity C721. The contact grid 221 connects the rechargeable battery 219 and the motor 231 such that the switch 225 will open and close the circuit between the motor 231 and the battery 219. The orientation tab indent C704 is located under the motorized self-starter cap 713 and is used to ensure that the channels of the motorized self-starter cap 713 are correctly aligned with the channels of the motorized self-starter housing 211. This is done by fitting the orientation tab indent C704 with the orientation tab receptacle 604 as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows the motorized self-starting hookah system 200 with its two valves; the purge valve 807 and the fan release valve 809. The purge valve 807 is located in the purge valve channel C707 which is used for releasing harsh or excess mixed air from the basin into the atmosphere. The fan release valve 809 is located in the fan output channel C709 which is used to expel the mixed air flowing from the bowl when starting the hookah. Both valves are identical and operate by releasing smoke through the six small channels that are open to the atmosphere. Directly below the valves are valve ball bearings 215 which prevent air from entering into the hookah from the atmosphere. When mixed air leaves through either the purge valve channel C707 or the fan-output channel C709, the mixed air pushes the valve ball bearings 215 upward and allows the mixed air to flow outward into the atmosphere. When the user instead inhales the mixed air from the hose channel C702, the valve ball bearings 215 drop down (due to the suction created) and cutoff outside air going into the purge valve channel C707 and/or the fan output channel C709 such that the mixed air flows only through pipe 205 and into the hose channel C702.

Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hookah shaft comprising: a hollow pipe; a tip at the top of the hollow pipe, wherein said tip will hold a bowl of tobacco; a tubular stem fitted over the hollow pipe and placed under the tip; and a motorized hookah starter with a tubular center fitted over the hollow pipe and placed under the stem, wherein said starter pulls smoke from the tobacco bowl located at the tip using a battery powered motor and releases the smoke outside of the system.
 2. The hookah shaft of claim 1, wherein the motorized starter comprises: a motor enclosed in a motor housing and cap; a motor fan fitted onto the motor shaft; a contact grid connected to the leads of said motor; a rechargeable battery connected to said contact grid; a power switch connected to said contact grid, wherein said switch will control the power output to the motor; a power input connected to the battery, wherein said input can recharge the battery; a release valve and ball bearing; wherein said release valve and bearing will allow air to be pulled from the tobacco bowl and released through the release valve; and a second release valve and ball bearing, wherein said valve and bearing will allow air to escape from the hookah water basin.
 3. The motorized starter of claim 2, wherein said starter housing contains six channels wherein: (i) said hollow pipe is fitted through the first channel; (ii) said motor, motor holder and motor fan are encased in the second channel; wherein a narrower channel at the bottom connects to the said first channel; (iii) said battery is encased in the third channel; (iv) A smoke intake channel in the fourth channel, wherein a hookah hose may be connected to the top of said channel; (v) An out-take channel also known as the purge channel in the fifth channel; wherein said channel escapes at the bottom of said housing; and (vi) A fan output channel wherein the channel connects to said first channel.
 4. The hookah shaft of claim 1, wherein said motorized starter contains a removable cap comprising of six through channels wherein: (i) said hollow pipe is fitted through the first channel; (ii) said switch is fitted into the second channel; and (iii) said power input is connected into an indent under the cap between the third and fourth channel wherein said contact grid is fitted into the indent.
 5. The motorized starter of claim 2, further comprising: a twist lock groove between the cap and the housing; an indent on said cap and outdent on said housing, wherein the indent and outdent will act as an orientation tab in order to properly align the channels of the cap and the channels of the housing; a silicon seal between said cap and said housing, wherein said seal will minimize the air leakage between the cap and housing; and a set screw at the bottom of the housing used to ensure proper assembly and dismantling of the system. 